Thailand Oct 31 to Nov 15

India

As I missed my first flight to Delhi India on Sept 27, next flight was Oct 3. On Oct 3 at 17 hrs I landed in Delhi. Yes, excately as everyone was telling me - Delhi is a big shock.

Nepal - Oct 7 to 31

Jordan - Amman

Monday morning at 9 am I was at the Indian Embassy; I handed in my passport and at 3pm my visa was ready. It is a full page visa for 3 month, multiple entries; I paid $30.00 for it.

After I browsed in an artsy part of Amman; books stores, coffees shops, museums.

This evening was the last day of Ramadan. At sun set there were lots of people on the street celebrating. People in my hostel were celebrating too.

It was very interesting to observe Ramadan. At sun set all the places were shut down and everyone was eating. Ramadan didn't inconvenience us at all, there were still plenty of stores, markets, juice bars open for us to get something to eat. People here are very considerate to tourists and they don't get offence if we eat. We tried our best to be discreet and respect people religion and practices.

Israel back to Jordan Amman

I have a very nice and relaxing morning at my friends in Tel Aviv. I had good coffee and breakfast. I would have liked to stay at least one more day, but tomorrow Monday is a holiday in Jordan and Jewish New Year and apparently the border crossing will be a nightmare. As I have to be at Indian Embassy tomorrow at 10:00 am I did not want to take a chance.

I left Tel Aviv at noon and I arrived in Amman at 4:30 pm. Customs formalities at Israeli and Jordanian border were very fast; there were very few people. I had to pay us$50 .00 to exit Israel!

Myself and a Jordanian - American woman got a free ride from the border to Amman by a Jordanian - American guy; very nice of him :

Back to my hostel I read more about Amman and decide what I am going visit tomorrow.

Isreal -Jerusalem and Tel Aviv

I was a tourist in Israel for a day, so I would call my trip - Isreal in one day.

I the morning I visited Jerusalem. I was with Susan, her husband and son. They took me everywhere.


In the afternoon my cousin Romana and her husband came and pick me up from Susan's place. We went and visit Tel Aviv.

Late in the evening we went to Jaffa.

What a day! At midnight I was really ready to go to bed.

Jordan to Israel

Amman is an Ok city but not to much to see and to do; as I am stuck here until I get my Indian visa I decided to go to Israel. I have been told that I have have a Syraian visa on my passport Iwill not be allowed to enter Israel but I was thinking that is worth to try.

I left Amman on a service taxi with 2 Palestinian students that I met in my hostel. At Jordanian border we had to get off the taxi and had to go through customs. There was a huge line up of people. A policeman came up to me and told me that I am in the wrong line up. I am a foreigner and I was supposed to be in a foreigner line up. I went to the other line of the buildings; this line up was long as well; many tourists to visit Israel. After about half an hour I got my Jordanian exit visa.

After we got on a blue bus; only blue buses operates between the border, there are no taxis allowed.

First Israeli check point -an officer got on the bus and checked passports.
Second check point - we all had to get off the bus and have our passports checked.

we arrived at Israeli boder, wwe had to hand in our bags and passports. It was very chaotic, people were coming from everywhere with tones of bags; there iwas lots of shouting and pushing around.

Finally I got my bag and my passport checked again; now I was in line for customs and immigration. I was in line for 3 hours; when my turn I was barely asked any questions; I got my Israelei visa in a few minutes.

On the other side of the border I took the shared taxi to Jerusalem. Susan's husband Uzi came and picked me up.

I spend the evening with Susan's family; it was really good to see her and meet haer family. We had a wonderful traditional Israeli dinner.